We evaluated the value of BioFire® FilmArray® pneumonia panel in establishing a microbiologic diagnosis of pneumonia. We evaluated opportunities for antimicrobial optimization from its use.
We included adult patients with pneumonia between May 2019-January 2020. The pneumonia panel was performed on high-quality sputum specimens and the results were prospectively compared with sputum cultures and other tests performed per standard of care.
Seventy patients were included, sixty-nine of whom completed a 5-day antimicrobial course for pneumonia and 14.3% died during hospitalization. There was a trend of higher rate of microbiologic diagnosis among the patients with culture submitted before antimicrobial administration (9/15 vs. 20/55; p = 0.09). The panel increased the microbiologic diagnosis from 29/70 to 59/70 (p < 0.001) patients. The per isolate analysis revealed an increase in the isolation of Haemophilus influenzae (p = 0.002) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (p = 0.05). On review of empiric antimicrobials, there was potential for antimicrobial optimization in 56/70 patients, including 9 bacteria among 9 patients, not covered by empiric treatment and another 70 antimicrobials in 49 patients that could have been stopped.
Incorporation of the pneumonia panel in the diagnostic work-up of pneumonia substantially increased the rate of microbiologic diagnosis and revealed abundant opportunities for antimicrobial optimization.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Evaluation of a Multiplex PCR Panel for the Microbiologic Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients: Experience from an Academic Medical Center.
